Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-07
Western Letter,

My last to the Journal was from Mexico
but it will never do to pass by without men
ton as interesting and adventurous tour as
that through Indian Territory and Texas
The passing of boundary lines between two of
| the commonwealth of our great republic
always gives rise to feeling of pride. This
feeling ia shared too by citizen of one State
living Immediately on the border of another
It's quite manifest even in travelling through
the little body of New England States, and
why should it not be tue in a State where
you can travel in a straight line distance
more than covering all the N K. States,
wearying the iron horse and laying him off
| five times for rest before crossing her broad
expanse.
Indian Territory, long the coveted pos
session, spreads out her vast blanket of rich
fertile lands and to the eye gives but little
evidence of as yet ever having been discovered.
A few settlers may be seen who have hired
land of the Indians and are farming to main
cain a mere existence and who evince no
desire for anything more. This great body
of uncultivsted land lies in a most desirable
latitude and has a climate very much pleas.
anter than that of the States north of il.
Parts of it are occupied by the Indians and il
is all held for their benefit Some of them
have been 90 far civilized a. to attempt farm
| ing and self support. Some few such have
succeeded and live comfortably, but you can
/ depend on the average Indian doing no vio-
lence to the old adage "me no Indian work. -
They are spoken of as worthless, shiftless
creatures, and since hunting and fighting is
but little INDUCED in there is nothing left
to fire their ambition. The women manage
to do what is done and the men lounge and
lie about, much Of the time hungry and all of
the time dirty and hard looking.
The government has done much for the
Indian but when it quits doing necessity soon
appears Schools have been planted for the
benefit of these people, and an Indian col.
lege 10 one of the things of striking contrast
to its surroundings, as you see this beautiful
edifce placed by the government in the CEN
tire of vast virgin prairie, looking lonesome
~ a desert schooner. Some of the Indians
can be induced to an education and some OF
them are intelligent and are interested in the
welfare of their race, though such are few.
There 10 but little that may be called socie-
ty in Indian Territory and but few men OF
any race here who care for it. There congre
gate about these Indiann settlements many
men of desperate character. who have fled
from the States and are guilty of many dark
crimes but are here in refuge or in hiding or
in defiance. At times they yet practice their
outlawry. The day before we passed Eufauls
! U. 5. troops were guarding some prisoners OF
the kind named. aud at night were attacked
" rescuing party who killed three guards,
cut them to pieces, strewed them over the
ground, released the prisoners and deliberate
! ly left the place. No one dare modest or pur.
sue without strong force and then only at
the expense Of life, as such desperad,es often
put their own lives in jeopardy if by it they